September 17
Finally, a bank that won’t screw you.
Did you know the Code of Hammurabi mentions wet nursing, and that European women in the 13th century earned more money from wet nursing than by any other profession? And did you know that the tradition of wet nursing continues today through a network of milk banks?
If you’ve been following my posts, you already know that I think breastfeeding is important (see “Breastfeeding is not obscene”). Well, I recently found out that my friend Scotti is on the board for a Portland nonprofit trying to start the first Milk Bank in Oregon. The Northwest Mothers Milk Bank is not yet a functional milk bank, but they are on their way. They’ve just been designated a developing bank by the HMBANA.
When My Fair Lady was smaller, I looked into donating and was surprised to learn that the closest places I could donate to are in San Jose, CA and Denver, CO. This, despite the fact that the Pacific Northwest has the highest breastfeeding initiation rates in the country. In fact, Oregon is #2 in the nation according to this CDC chart. Women in the PNW who want to donate milk would have to send it to CA or CO. Hospitals in the PNW are buying milk from these out-of-state banks. All in all, not the greenest option for us tree-hugging mamas in Oregon/Washington.
Milk banks are a godsend for parents with preemies, and have strict safety controls. All donors are screened for transmissible disease through a blood sample (similar to the screen you get if you are a blood donor). The milk is pooled with other donors’ milk, pasteurized, cultured to check for bacteria, frozen, and shipped to hospitals who use the milk in their NICUs. When I spoke to Scotti, I was surprised to learn that the pooled milk can be tested for its nutritional profile, and eventually milk with specific properties can be given to babies that need more fat, protein, etc. (Which is essentially what your body does naturally when you breastfeed. That is to say, your milk’s nutritional profile varies depending on what your baby needs).
The Northwest Mothers Milk Bank needs $300,000 to open their doors, mostly to pay for equipment. After they open, they will hire full time staff. Costs will be paid by grants, donations and the sale of donated milk (hospitals pay about $4.50/ounce, but bear in mind that vulnerable preemies need very little milk).
If you live in Portland, I urge you to support their efforts. If you are a breastfeeding mom, please consider becoming a donor.
You can find the closest bank to your city at the Human Milk Banking Association website. They also have a great page on the history of milkbanking.